Editor 's note : What 's the best advice your father ever gave you ? Please share in the comments section below .

-LRB- RealSimple.com -RRB- -- My father taught me the importance of making my bed every morning . When I was six years old , he showed me how to complete the task Marine Corps-style and would inspect my work on a daily basis .

Today my bed is one of the only things in my life that is consistently neat and orderly . -LRB- Sigh . -RRB- -- Mary Usen , Buffalo , New York

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How important it is to have fun . My dad was never boring : He often stood on his head to impress his three kids . And he made even mundane errands exciting .

For example , he once coaxed us to imagine a trip to the fishmonger 's -LRB- with its live octopus on display -RRB- as a Jules Verne adventure . My dad taught me that life is better when you have a good time -- and bring others along for the ride . -- Monique Citron Stampleman , Larchmont , New York

Many mornings when my dad dropped me off at school , he would repeat the adage `` Do n't take any wooden nickels . '' He meant it to mean : Do n't settle for less than you 're worth .

I 've relied on this advice countless times over the years . It has motivated me to end harmful relationships and has kept me from underestimating my abilities at work . Thanks to my father , I do n't let self-doubt keep me from achieving my goals . -- Hilary Heindl , Salem , Massachusetts

While I was growing up in the late 1950s and early 60s , my dad made sure I knew that I could do anything a man could do . He showed me how to use power tools , climb on the roof to install a radio antenna , and lift a trailer onto a hitch .

He also loved to see me dressed up for dances and even bought me my first lipstick . He wanted me to recognize that I could be feminine and self-sufficient . -- Winifred Norwood , Ellsworth , Maine

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When I first entered the working world , my dad told me that it 's as important to remember the assistant 's name as the boss 's . It 's good manners , but it 's also smart business : After all , if you ever need something , you wo n't get to the boss unless you 're on good terms with the person who handles her schedule .

Having worked as an assistant myself , I know firsthand that he was right . I would make a point to go out of my way to help people who treated me kindly . -- Carolyn Juris , Astoria , New York

My father says , `` If you want something done , ask a busy person to do it . '' And he should know : He 's an incredibly industrious doctor who manages to get to know his patients well , play ball with his grandchildren , and pursue countless hobbies .

In my own life , I 've discovered that I am more productive when I have more going on . -- Kim Prywes Bloomberg , Chicago , Illinois

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Before I got married , my father advised me to avoid complaining about my husband to my friends . If you do n't hash out problems with your spouse , he said , you might start harboring resentment toward him or cause your friends to view him negatively . Because of this sound guidance , my marriage is thriving . -- Lara Carr Winton , Pinson , Alabama

You do n't have to answer the phone just because it rings . My dad always felt that if he was with a family member or a friend , that person took precedence over whoever might be calling . He taught me to focus on the people I 'm with , regardless of the situation . After all , they deserve my full attention . -- Jessica Barr-Gabriel , Okotoks , Alberta

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The best advice my father ever gave was passed down from his dad : Never try to solve problems at night , because they always seem worse than they do in the morning . Though I sometimes lack the self-control to follow this sage suggestion , I 've learned over the years that it 's true . Darkness can make even the smallest obstacle seem insurmountable . -- Laura Sinrod , New York , New York

Everything -- especially when it comes to gardening . Thanks to my dad 's smarts , I know that I should check the average date for the last frost in my region before I start spring planting . I only hope that one day my backyard will be as enviable as his . -- Kristin Monaco , Washington , D.C.

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To avoid the blues , my dad said , you should always have something to look forward to . Now when I 'm in a bad mood , I find myself thinking about that `` something '' -- a sunny vacation spot , a trip to a café , or even a good-night hug from my boys . -- Amy Canby , Englewood , Colorado

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Share your dad 's best advice in the comment area below .

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People share words of wisdom from their fathers

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Sinrod 's father taught her to `` Never try to solve problems at night . ''

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Usen 's father advised her to always make her bed in the morning